Muscat: A contract has been signed for establishing a private clinic in Duqm that will provide healthcare services to people working in the area as well as visitors, an official at the Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority told Times of Oman in an interview.

"We have signed a contract with Iskan Oman to construct a full-fledged clinic that will provide healthcare facilities for people doing business in Duqm, the local community and those who come to visit. It will be for everybody," Saleh Hamood Al Hasni, Investor Relations Manager at Duqm Authority, said.

Important projectIt is a very important project and the construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year, he said, adding that the clinic is expected to be ready within two years after the launch of the construction phase.

Asked about the value of the contract, Al Hasni said that it is in the region of OMR5 to OMR7 million.

Duqm refineryCommenting on the Duqm refinery project, the official noted that the project is in the field stage and construction work is expected to commence in January 2015. It is expected to take two- and-a-half years or three years to be completed, he added. "We expect the refinery to be ready by the beginning of 2018."

During the peak phase of the project, 30,000 job opportunities are expected to be created, Al Hasni noted.

He added that a total of $750 million worth of investment was made in Duqm in 2013.